Wanna' fast for a few days? Join us as we pursue Jesus.

Well, here we go again! It’s been a little bit, but we’re gonna’ do another Daniel fast. Our fast will start Jan. 1 & end Jan. 17, 5pm.

Fasting is a way for us to focus on God. All around us things pull for our attention & most of these things have to do with ourselves or the world. God is concerned about our physical needs, but he is most concerned with our spiritual well being. Fasting is a way to remove certain things from our life in order to focus more clearly upon God, who he is, & who he is calling us to be.

Jesus fasted for 40 days; Moses fasted for 40 days; Paul talks regularly about fasting. In fact, throughout the Bible you will find examples of people abstaining from food in order to hear & know God more. Too, so many people in the Bible fasted that one thing is made clear: Fasting is good for the soul. Abstaining from the world helps you to focus on God.

What is a Daniel fast?
The concept of a Daniel fast comes from Daniel 1:8-14, “But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel, but the official told Daniel, "I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you." Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, "Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see." So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.”
• Daniel abstained from certain foods for a short period of time eating only vegetables.
What are we fasting?
• We will be fasting: All animal products (cheese, meat, milk, eggs, etc), sugar, coffee, alcohol, & T.V.
How do I know what is O.K. to eat?
• Basically we are leaving this question to each person. We only ask that you think about this question when approaching your fast: Is what you're about to eat a delicacy? Each person will have different "delicacies," so... Why press the boundries?
Why are we fasting T.V?
• We are fasting T.V. because it is a delicacy of the world. Although it doesn’t feed our stomachs, I think we’d all agree that T.V. feeds us. Daniel desired to “not defile himself…” & Jesus went into the desert for 40 days; why shouldn’t we remove from our lives the world’s greatest evangelistic tool to focus on God?

Use this time as a way to pursue God & his purposes in your life. My wife & I have often commented on our fasts being more “hunger strikes,” than rich spiritual exercises. Read more, pray more, compliment more, and share your faith in both word & deed with your neighbors. This fast should be a wonderful experience with the Creator of the Universe. Fasting is more about following Jesus than it is about not eating.

Well it's official---Time flies! I am always amazed at how fast the weeks go by, I'm sure you are too.

We are doing great in SC. We just had our first annual formal Christmas dinner & it was a blast. There were about 25 people up here who we have met through various ways in SC. It was cool. Everyone was dressed up, guys in ties & girls in dresses. I was praying & talking to God because there is so much need around the world & most of that need is financial (like clean water). I was absorbed in this because we possess so much material wealth. But, anthropologists have long known of the West’s relational poverty. The majority of people in the West identify themselves with what they do, not who they belong to; it’s interesting. I think we have a pretty cool “to belong to.”

It's fun having people who don't know Jesus up here (& some who go to church). Most people are intrigued by our way of life. People who don't know Jesus ask about Jesus, since our lives look different than what they categorize as “Christian.” & those who are Christians are interested by our devotion to Jesus. I did get to have a wonderful conversation with a gal who went to UCSC & came as a guest of Alana. She was really curious about our faith & we talked for some time. I don't know where it will lead, but I got to say some pretty plain things about who we are & why we do what we do. Life without Jesus is, well, not life; & I know first hand she isn't happy. Why? Cuz' you can't be happy if you're not healthy, & only Jesus can heal what's been broken. Once again we all had to chuckle because of all the Asians we had up here. Our Korean friends brought more Korean friends & it's always a hoot. Laben & I just looked at each other & smiled because we wouldn’t have pictured being surrounded by Korean’s in the mtns. of SC.

After talking with many of our Christian guests you do find they know Jesus, but what place he holds in their life is uncertain. Too, I’ve found that “Christians” are very skilled at talking to “Christians.” Most “Christians” know enough jargon to keep them afloat through a surface level conversation. One guest was speaking to me & our love for Jesus was mutual; however, later he was speaking to someone else & their conversation rendered ours difficult to work out. One of my recent sermons had this as a main, & repeated point: “Jesus never intended to be a part of your life, he has always intended that you be a part of his.”

I've been talking with the YWAM base in Mazatlan. We're thinking about using this as our yearly short-term missions trip. The cost is realistic & YWAM does some pretty cool stuff in the cities they're located in. We'll build houses, reach out to surfers, & do dramas downtown, etc, with young people who want to follow Jesus. It sound like a good fit for us. It’s our hope this will be another point in the path for our people surrendering all to Jesus & his commission. We’ll see.

Family Photo

We had a full weekend here at the house. Thanksgiving was packed; it was an official ISI event, which meant we got to invite all sorts of international UCSC students to the house. We had 20+ people, BBQ’d two birds, chose from 7 different pies, & showed the international students how to get their gorge on. It was fun. Before we prayed we all got in a circle & said what we were thankful for (Thanks Linda!). It was cool to hear how many of us are genuinely thankful for Jesus & his church. Too, we are eager to let our light shine for all to see, with pumpkin pie of course. Here are some pics:













































Larry's body shut down so he could digest his food!


The next day we had Randy Knutson here & got down with our house specialty: Pork Ribs & leftover pie. Randy is the overseer for church planting in the west for the Vineyard Association. The Vineyard church in San Mateo invited him because God is stirring their heart to become more than a “sit & listen” church; they want to become God’s body to their neighbors. Randy shared some great stuff & gave practical ways of “doing the stuff” in the locals we find ourselves in. He’s very passionate about those who don’t know Jesus & he continually went back to “going out,” “taking Jesus to the world,” & “the harvest is ripe.” It was encouraging & challenging. I came away with many questions: How are we reaching out to our culture? Do we think we aren’t a “sit & listen” church because we have ministry time, or I have a Q & A session at the end of the sermon? How are we discipling those who are a part of our church & are they truly making Jesus Lord of their entire being?

There’s a Christmas tree farm 2 miles from our house, so for our leadership meeting I suggested we go get a tree. We walked through hundreds of trees talking about what God is doing & what we were stirred about through our weekend. We found one, the girls cut it down, Jeff & I supervised, & the owners wrapped it up for us! I’ve never seen so many perfect trees; our is a Douglas Fir.




























We are about to have our first weekend intensive as a church. This Sunday we are going to meet up at the house for an all day “retreat.” We are going to discuss: What it means to follow Jesus (Sermon), Our Values (Love God, Love People, Make Disciples, Equipping them for ministry…) What it means to spend time with God daily & how to do it (Exercise), & What it means to be in a discipleship relationship with someone from church (Exercise). Please pray for us. Many of the people attending our church here us talk about these things, but this is where we’re really going to define what we’re all about; it’s going to be a “please bolt-on or bolt-off” time.” Relationships have gathered several people & this is a call to go to the next level as a mature disciple. We want to be a church filled with people who say, “whatever Jesus asks of me; wherever he asks me to go.” We exist for Jesus alone; we’re not a Christian club & never will be.



Jonathan's B-day 1yr!

Finally. It's now 10:50 & we are just able to enter a room at the Vet's Hall. We walk upstairs to the largest Studio as people in exercise garmets are leaving. I see Manuel who is opening up all the windows in the room; why? I'm unsure, but he's in a hurry. When I enter the room clarity hits me in the face; the smell of human sweat, mixed with incense, has been cultivated into a unique aroma that comes about by exercise & high temperatures. Antioch Church, meet your new neighbors: One Yoga. They ask what we are doing & when we tell them why someone replies, "Welcome to our sacred space." What a blessing to be able to love on these people each Sunday.

As I was driving down the hill, the manager of the facility called me & said, "Sorry, but the Rotary Club needs your room, I'll post a sign outside the door." As I arrived I found the sign he so politely posted for us: "Antioch Church & those meeting Sean please meet at San Lorenzo Park at 10am." It's the thought that counts man, thank you. As people start to arrive I'm standing there feeling like my head is about to burst open & my friends would see my brains ooze down the sidewalk as a gooey mess.






Needless to say, God made it happen. Later, we found ourselves in a room & I got to worship God with people who exist as a people, because I was obedient to God; & he is wonderful enough to use me even when I don't think I can walk on water, but I get out anyways. Who new becoming a new creation in Christ could happnen on an hourly basis.

Anyways, later that day...

I’m reading a thought-provoking book by Alan Hirsch. I have been very encouraged by this book, because, to be honest, I continue to judge our church's effectiveness against a theological understanding of church I am in tension with. He shares many prophetic insights within this book. There will be more, but here’s a tid-bit.

“To illustrate this with a bit of living irony, a friend of mine, Michael Frost, was, in 2005, privy to a meeting with three Chinese leaders from the underground church who were smuggled out to a group of Western leaders. When they were asked what they wanted people to pray for they asked for three things: While acknowledging that the government has become more lenient, they were still not allowed to gather in groups of more that fifteen people, and when they grew beyond that they had to split and start a new church. The second issue they addressed was that they were not allowed to have church buildings and were thus forced to meet in homes, cafes, karaoke bars, and social clubs. The third thing they felt they needed a breakthrough with was that they were forbidden to develop separate organizations where they could collectively train leaders; they were forced to train leaders in the local church. Michael, himself a vice president of a seminary, has often said that in all good conscience he simply could not pray for them in this way, because he and the group gathered there realized that in many ways the Communist state was forcing the church to remain more true to itself. Philip Yancey likewise reports on his life-changing trip to China. He says, “Before going to China I met with on of the missionaries we left behind, ‘he said. ‘They had no one to teach them, no printing presses, no seminaries, no one to run their clinics & orphanages. No resources, really, except the Holy Spirit.’” Yancey concludes, “It appears the Holy Spirit is doing just fine.”

This quote got me thinking. I am amazed that although we are looking to China to see what they are doing right, they continue to want to do church as has been done in the Western world; which, ironically, is working in a few isolated situations, but overall, is failing. It’s also remarkable to see how we have filled the Chinese with our cultural concepts concerning church: Buildings, Large churches, and Para-church organizations, including seminaries. Not leaving the Chinese (or anyone we evangelized for that matter: see colonialism) content to walk out life together as believers who then discover what it means to do & be the church in & to their culture, we have also imported the “how to” along with the “because of whom.” Therefore, Chinese believers are still waiting to do church like us & we, some of us at least, pray for Communism.

Check out the website Here.

Can't say I'm sad about This

I just finished the book, “Good to Great,” & must admit it was: Great. Estevan Andrade, a friend of mine, & one of my coaches, recommended it to me. Here are some quotes from the last chapter titled “The Flywheel & the Doom Loop.” It outlines the momentum created by a people groups efforts.

“No matter how dramatic the end result, the good-to-great transformations never happened in one fell swoop. There was no single defining action, no grand program, no one killer innovation, no solitary lucky break, no wrenching revolution. Good to great comes about by the cumulative process—step by step, action by action, decision by decision, turn by turn of the flywheel—that adds up to sustained and spectacular results.”
When I read this I think about the countless people I know who are still looking for that one fell-swoop to end the issues in their life, church, etc. Still looking for the next church program or revival to help them get there.

“Here’s what’s important. We’ve allowed the way transitions look from the outside to drive our perception of what they must feel like to those going through them on the inside. From the outside, they look like dramatic, almost revolutionary breakthroughs. But from the inside, they feel completely different, more like organic development process.”
We just signed up for Antioch’s World Mandate; this is their 20th year holding this event. We see all the glitz & glam, numerous church plants being sent out, a nice church building, 3200 people worshipping their guts out & say, “this is it.” What most people don’t realize is that “this is not it.” What is “it,” is the countless mundane decisions made, the numerous habits created & sustained, the constant call to prayer, early mornings or late nights. World Mandate started as a weekend of prayer for the nations. American church culture is riddled with people who would conclude: “We need hold a huge conference about missions.”

“The good-to-great companies had no name for their transformations. There was no launch event, no tag line, no programmatic feel whatsoever. Some executives said that they weren’t even aware that a major transformation was under way until they were well into it. It was often obvious to them after the fact than at the time. Then it began to dawn on us: There was no miracle moment. Although it may have looked like a single-stroke breakthrough to those peering in from the outside, it was anything but that to people experiencing the transformation from within.”
The tortoise vs. the hare.

“When I look over the good-to-great transformations, the one word that keeps coming to mind is consistency. Another word offered to me by physics prof. R.J. Peterson is coherence. “What is on plus one?” he asked, “Four!” In physics, we have been talking about the idea of coherence, the magnifying effect of one factor upon another.”

“And like most overnight successes, it was about twenty years in the making.”
Look at Yaks. Yaks didn’t start when Vineyard opened the coffee shop doors; it started when Mike & Nancy expressed some of their core values: People who don’t know Jesus need to know, Christ-like character is developed in service, & be excellent. Yaks isn’t a coffee shop as much as it is an expression of values. I feel bad for churches who see Yaks & say, “Oh, what we need is a coffee shop!” No. Yaks is an expression of a people ethos.

“I believe that it is no harder to build something great than to build something good. It might be statistically more rare to reach greatness, but it does not require more suffering than perpetuating mediocrity.”
Wow. Who knew?

(Talking about a high school cross-country team) “They’re just focusing on the right things, and not the wrong things, not wasting time on anything that doesn’t fit. Simple, clean, straightforward, elegant—and a heck of a lot of fun.”
What are the right things? What are the wrong things? Are you having fun?

Jeff & I were talking the other morning about a young man who will not be joining us on our journey. We were both expressing our disappointment & I said, “Jeff we aren’t doing this for results; we're doing this for Jesus. We are doing this because it’s part of our worship to God & we believe it’s the only real thing in the entire world. We know it’s true: so let’s just stay focused on the timeless truths about Him, practice the disciplines we see in the Bible, & let it happen.”

I was invited to speak at a Vineyard church in San Mateo. They are a great group of folks who are trying to figure out what it means to follow Jesus. They recorded it & you can listen to the (message) if you want to. & we are starting a church in Santa Cruz, while living in Bonny Doon; we are not starting a church in Scotts Valley! Oh, the unsearchable humor of God.

Well it's official: I work at Starbucks! I applied at a managers symposium in San Jose & they hired me as a shift manager with the goal of making me an Asst. Manager as soon as January. I work at one of the busiest stores in our area. We are right next to Hwy 17, which serves as the main route for commuters into San Jose each day. I'm not sure how many people frequent our stores, but it's a lot. Too, the people I work with are all younger than me! It's a trip, & happens to everyone, but I now find myself saying, "I'm the oldest one here," or "dude, you can't be old enough to drive," or "uh...you're to young to have that hicky on your neck!" Anyways, I work with nothing but college & high school students. Great! Interestingly, until I become a Manager my wife & I won't be able to pay our bills. However, we recently enrolled Siena into a child work program to make up for the deficit. Please pray for opportunities to make relationships & share the gospel with these awesome people I’ll meet.

The church is doing well. We just started having two Lifegroups in the city. Both of the groups meet in public areas, one at a coffee shop & the other at a Bagel shop. This is because a) we live in the woods like a Christian commune & b) we haven't found that the people connecting with our church would be responsible in hosting our groups, so we decided to go with a "sure" location. It's been good so far. I am excited because we are setting in place one of the main formative events in our church: Life on life discipleship. Also, we get to do our thing in public; the harvest is ripe & weird in Santa Cruz!














I've been reading through John's letters, what a blessing. John is pretty hardcore about his convictions & has really encouraged me. This verse really stood out to me:

(2 John 7-11) I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the world. They deny that Jesus Christ came in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist. Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward. Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to your meeting and does not teach the truth about Christ, don’t invite that person into your home or give any kind of encouragement. Anyone who encourages such people becomes a partner in their evil work.

I had to wonder: Who or what do I allow in my house? Holiness isn't a popular subject, especially in America, & more so on the "free" west coast. We are "free" in Christ & all things are "permissible." I wonder what John would think about the guests we invite into our homes? Often times we allow people or things of influence into our lives that we, or our culture, deem harmless. I thought about the countless Christians I know who invite unchristlike guests into their house through TV, music, or other media. John goes so far as to call them "Antichrists," but he's a little more radical than us. I have found myself wondering, “Why am I watching this?” or turning my head as I endure that “one bad scene.” I know it's not cool to ask, "How is that honoring Christ in your life or the work he wants to accomplish through you?" & it's must cooler to say, "Let's go watch so & so, doing this & that, drinking such & such, while listening to you know who." I am reminded that: you will become like the people you spend time with, listen to, & desire to be like. Who are we inviting into our homes? John says, "If anyone comes to your meeting and does not teach the truth about Christ, don’t invite that person into your home or give any kind of encouragement. Anyone who encourages such people becomes a partner in their evil work." I wish I were cool, but...

There are many things Jesus accomplished when he lived, died, & was raised to life. Two things that were accomplished in this were: Life & Salvation. I've been wrestling with these two things as of late. Here's what I've been thinking.

Most Christians believe Jesus died to give salvation, & I agree. However, I believe Jesus' sacrifice on the cross (atonement) results in a more robust offer. I argue that he died to give us Life; & I think that salvation is included within this life that God gives. Salvation is often seen as having merit when I die, but this is not what God intends for us; he came to give eternal Life, which starts the instant you trust in Jesus as Messiah.

Ephesians 2:1-4 says, "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved." We were dead but God gave us Life in Christ.

John 1:4 "In him was life, and that life was the light of men." In him was Life.
John 5:39-40 "You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life." Jesus has Life to give.
John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Full life is only found in Jesus.

This has become important to me because I see many Christians not living the Life God has empowered us to live; yet they profess him. Too, this goes against the "Just get saved" formulas, which are a mockery to God's offer. When you confess Christ, eternal Life starts & getting saved is just one part of this new Life; now, real, whole, healthy, & healed.

From Wikipedia--A church is an association of people who share a particular belief system. The term church originated from Greek "κυριακή" - "kyriake", meaning "of the lord". The term later began to replace the Greek ekklesia and basilica within Christendom, c. AD 300, though it was used by Christians before that time.

I find it interesting that although Widipedia describes the church as "a group of people," each of the pictures of "a church" are of buildings. Google image: Church.

Why is it that the church has been reduced to "a building?" How many times have I been asked, "so you started a church, where's your building?" Actually, the best question I've been asked, & the definition given within the question came from a militant Atheist who is our neighbor. She said, "So you've come here to start a community?" It boggled my mind when she asked because I have yet to hear anyone say anything about the people when I talk to them about church; this includes people who have attended church their whole life, or who attend churches who speak about mission: It is my conclusion that people, churched people!, don't know what church is. Church is a people who, not a place where.

This comes about because a friend of mine is about to do something new. He is the pastor of a church & confessed to me, "I've created a service of Sunday go to church people." He is about to step into a new direction where he can "be" the church to his community in the Bay Area. He's realized that it takes more than preaching about mission, he has to take what religious Christians find to be their safety blanket & turn it into a time where a group of people "go" & become the church to the world.

Well, it finally happened; Somebody Accepted Jesus!
This last weekend the gals went to a women's retreat in Redding & they were able to bring one of the women who has plugged into our church. During the weekend she accepted Jesus' gift of salvation, telling everyone, "I've become a Christian." We are all very excited & expectant for what the future holds for our friend & her husband; she will be counted among the redeemed of God, & He is blessed.

Now we enter into the reality of "what now?" What is the next step in discipleship to Christ? Where do we go from here? Actually, we have a couple of confessed Christians who are plugging into our church, but who have little relationship with HIM. On paper we know how to draw the diagrams that create a "lost to leader" path, but in real life, with real situations, it's a bit more interesting.

We are looking for a room to meet in. Since the rainy season is approaching, & we've been mtg in a park, it's time to find a room in SC to meet in. We have one available, but it is only available on Sunday nights. Does that matter? God has chosen for us to live in the mtns of SC for right now, so we are faced with a unique set of questions; as is everyone ;-).

Anyways, Our friend Accepted Jesus! She leads the line of the many who will hear, confess, & live the gospel among "all nations" from our church.

You can tell what people are all about when you find out where they spend their time & money. Jeff & I were laughing last night because in the future we will look back at what we have purchased as a church & chuckle. Of course there's more too it, but here's a peak into what Antioch Church of SC spends their money on.

What does it mean to live for Jesus? Well, first off, it means: Live For Jesus!

We’ve been worshipping at San Lorenzo Park, which is right downtown SC. We get there at about 10:20, set up the chairs, feed the ducks, get out the instruments, go to the bathroom, then worship God, share what we saw or felt during worship, bathroom break, preach or teach (I gravitate towards preach; Rachel can’t sit next to me ‘cuz I freak her out!) from scripture, discuss what we’ve experienced, & then we’ll go out to eat or scoot on home.

We’ve been praying about what to do about the poor. My wife & I have said “we don’t want to do something just to say we do something, but we want to do what God’s doing.” So, we’ve been patient. (That said, at our leadership mtgs we always bring up the poor & what we’re not doing.) Rachel (GO RACHEL!) had the idea of having a drum circle where we sang worship songs, which would attract people, & then we would invite them to share a meal with us. Well we did it yesterday & it was too much fun. We were able to meet two homeless folks & touch their lives. We invited them to meet us at the park Tue. night for Lifegroup. Let’s hope they show up. “Follow me as I follow Christ.” Show up!

Here are some of the highlights of yesterdays “Living For Jesus” day. Stephen, Laben’s friend from Trinidad asked him to be a groomsman in his wedding; IN TRINIDAD! Laben didn’t think he was having any effect in Stephen’s life, but guess what Laben, you’re a man of God! When I asked if anyone heard anything from God after worship He-Jyoung says, “When Siena & Sky are dancing I think God is present.” He doesn’t believe in Jesus! Sky’s father, Greg, met Linda at library story time & came to church, let his daughter dance with Siena in the middle of our worship circle. Greg doesn’t believe in Jesus; “What are you thinking as you watch us worship Greg?!” Jeff’s student worker, who wants to plant a church, came to church. In transition to the drum-circle I saw the homeless guy, Mark, but couldn’t get to him. So, I went to Josh & said, “Hey man, can you go invite Mark to lunch?” (read his blogHere). I don't know why he calls me Chris. Our drum circle was too much fun & we met Carol from back east. She had evidently been punched in the face & we got to hang out with her for quite some time. She ate a lot of pizza.

The life of Christ was just happening & it was too much fun. Will it be like this each time we meet? Maybe it will; or maybe it won’t. Our mission remains the same: Love God, Love People, Make Disciples; Equip them for the work of the ministry, the building up of the church, demonstrating God’s Kingdom in all Nations.

Up at the Ranch we are really wrestling with God. We had one of our most fruitful prayer & intercession times the night before. We are growing in prayer! We must grow in prayer. We’ve been having a worship & prayer night once a month for about 2yrs & this last Sat. night was legit. We’re moving past the generic prayer mtg & into intercession.

God’s is so awesome & we’re continuing to learn what it means to “be violent” with him. (Matthew 11:12) We are enjoying him, which results in a triumphant church! Nothing fancy, just allowing our delight in God to overflow into a delight in mankind, which results in evangelism, which creates repentance, that leads to discipleship, so we can do more church, shouting louder shouts, declaring God’s passion for the nations, which produces churches from our church; more of the same… Oh, & don’t think any of this happens without a healthy appreciation for the taste of: Humble Pie!

We were rockin' out to some worship music & Siena says, "Watch me dance dad!" Be blessed dad.

South Korea cooked & came to us one Sunday night.